04.11.2022 GST Trumbore

GUEST ARTIST RECITAL Aaron Trumbore, percussion Patricia Betcher, piano MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2022 WARE FAMILY RECITAL HALL SWOPE MUSIC BUILDING 8:00 PM

PROGRAM BARTALK: VARIATIONS ON CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA................................Aaron Trumbore MORNING CLOUDS .......................................................................................................... Nils Rohwer Patricia Betcher, piano

CAN YOU HEAR ME? ..................................................................................................... Wally Gunn Patricia Betcher, piano

THE BIG AUDITION ................................................................................................... Casey Cangelosi PLVS VLTRA ............................................................................................................ Aaron Trumbore TAP ORATORY ............................................................................................................ Casey Cangelosi

BIOGRAPHIES Aaron Trumbore is a percussionist, educator, conductor, and percussion small-business owner from Carlisle, PA. Through performance and education, Aaron shares his passion for the arts with students and audiences throughout the mid-Atlantic region and the country. He has performed with The Harrisburg Symphony, Symphony in C, Opera Philadelphia, Vox Amadeus, The Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, The Shippensburg Festival Orchestra, The Curtis Institute Symphony Orchestra, The McCormick Marimba Festival in Florida, and the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions in Austin, TX and Indianapolis, IN. Aaron currently serves as Percussion Faculty at James Madison University & Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Faculty at Shippensburg University. Aaron earned his Bachelor of Music Performance degree from West Chester University where he studied with Dr. Ralph Sorrentino & Dr. Chris Hanning. Aaron continued his graduate studies at Temple University where he was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship and earned his Master of Music Performance degree while studying with Alan Abel and Chris Deviney of the Philadelphia Orchestra. As the co-owner of Artifact Percussion, Aaron focuses on providing students and professionals with handmade sticks and mallets produced at our small shop in Carlisle, PA. As a clinician, Aaron has made appearances discussing entrepreneurship at universities around the US & the world. Aaron is sponsored by Pearl/Adams Percussion, Sabian Cymbals and Grover Pro Percussion.

Patricia Betcher, pianist, is currently a music teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. She directs the choir and teaches guitar and piano classes at Northeast High School. She is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia, New York, with a B.M. in Music Education, and University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, with a Masters of Music in Music Education. She owns BetcherPiano, a private piano lesson business, as well as the tree care company, AxeLoversArborists, LLC. She enjoys the occasional opportunities where she can perform as a collaborative pianist. Her free time is dedicated to spending time volunteering for the Friends of the Wissahickson Park in Philadelphia. Playing music and caring for nature are the true healers of our complicated humanity.

Please silence all cell phones and electronic devices.

PROGRAM NOTES Composed in 2014, BarTalk is a meditation on the famous snare drum solo in the opening of the 2nd movement of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. The inspiration for this piece developed from improvisation during countless hours perfecting this commonly asked snare drum excerpt on professional orchestra auditions.

Winner of the 2007 Classical Marimba League composition contest, impressionism category, Morning Clouds is written for marimba and piano duet. Morning Clouds is an inviting duet full of energy and warm harmonies.

The piano and marimba share the stage, each with its own solos and cadenza-like features. Incorporating elements of the Impressionist style with hints of jazz and even pop, the music floats along like the clouds on a lovely fall morning.

A conversation between two people involves both text and subtext. Some meaning is conveyed in words, while other, simultaneous meanings are conveyed in codes. Can You Hear Me? is an exploration of sound and rhythm built around the corresponding Morse code -.-. .- -. / -.-- --- ..- / .... . .- .-. / -- . ..--.. The piece opens with the use of a fairly uncommon children's toy instrument called a “Stylophone” which declaims the rhythmic and melodic motive used throughout. As the music develops, the rhythmic Morse code phrase is passed around and embellished upon between both the drum kit and piano. And like two people who might recount the same conversation, the two versions contain similar material, but differ markedly in the way they are expressed.

- Wally Gunn

The Big Audition is a fascinating commentary on the peculiarities of what it is like to prepare for and take professional orchestra auditions.

Inspired by a visit to Henry Chapman Mercer’s Fonthill Castle home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, PLVS VLTRA (meaning “more beyond” in Latin) is a meditation on the belief that there is more beyond the comfort and familiarity of our everyday lives. Henry Mercer (1856-1930) was an American archaeologist, historian, craftsman, artist, and writer. Above the fireplace in the library of Fonthill Castle, colorful hand-crafted tiles spell out the words “Plus Ultra.” Underneath the words are images of a ship sailing between the Pillars of Hercules and of Christopher Columbus meeting with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand - stories of the Age of Exploration. Mercer adopted “Plus Ultra” as a personal motto. He believed in the “New World” and he lived during his own generation’s age of exploration. PLVS VLTRA interprets the next great age of exploration. Space exploration is still young and we, as a species, are still discovering the unknown. The work that scientists, engineers, researchers, and explorers do everyday in the field of space travel teaches us to never stop searching for more beyond what we already know. Instead of fearing the unknown, we should embrace it as an opportunity to discover what we are truly capable of doing and becoming.

Commissioned in 2015 by Aaron Trumbore, Tap Oratory is a virtuosic work written for solo snare drum and pre-recorded electronic sounds. The piece is meant to be a magic trick of sorts that incorporates a constant flow of different stick visuals each with their own corresponding electronic sound woven into challenging rudimental snare drum performance. It is intended for the viewer to become entranced in the acoustic and electronic sounds until you are no longer able to discern between the two.

UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 8:15 PM Spring Choral Festival David P. Devenney & Ryan Kelly, directors Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 12:00 PM Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series: Jazz Division Jonathan Ragonese, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Thursday, April 14, 2022, 8:15 PM New Music Series "homegrown" Concert Jacob Cooper & Van Stiefel, directors Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

Monday, April 18, 2022, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Daniel Cherry, trombone Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 8:15 PM Percussion Ensemble Concert Ralph Sorrentino, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 8:15 PM Woodwind Chamber Recital Karen Dannessa, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

Thursday, April 21, 2022, 8:15 PM Keyboard Honors Recital Emily Bullock, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

Saturday, April 23, 2022, 7:00 PM New Music Series: Singularity Jacob Cooper & Van Stiefel, directors Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

*Tickets required for this event.

Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations.

Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “Wells School of Music Excellence Fund” in the memo line.

For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/WellsSchoolofMusic and Vimeo.com/WSOM Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.

The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean